Last year I purchased a shiny new laptop which was preloaded with XP Pro, SP2. Included was a trial version of MS Office 2007. I paid no attention to this and proceeded to install MS Office XP (2002).
Last night, out of curiosity, I opened Word 2007. I found that I could acquire a free licence lasting for two months, or a full licence.
I proceeded to purchase a full license for the full version (MS Office 2007 Business Edition). I have no use whatsoever for this software which cost me almost $AU 700 (approximately $US 600).
It was almost as much as the cost of the computer (AU 850 — $US 700).
Why had I unhesitatingly parted with such a large sum of money for a program I will almost certainly never use?
And then the penny dropped. I had been illegally using MS Office suites and OSs for some years. I had purchased Office 97 Pro for $1 at a garage sale. I installed it on two computers.
I had acquired a copy of Windows 95 for a cheap price second-hand, and installed this on every refurbished computer I sold back in those days. In some instances I also installed Office 97. Please bear in mind that these computers would have been unsaleable if original software was used, as the selling price of the computers was less than the cost of an original version of Windows 95.
A member of TR provided me with a copy of Office XP which I have installed on four computers.
I have installed a bulk-licence copy of Windows XP Pro on two computers which I am currently using. I have no idea if the licence is still valid.
Recently someone here copped heaps for intending to use a friend’s copies of various software. He was spanked hard and directed to various readily available open source software programs.
So those who wish may spank me, but I feel that in my own small way I have made my peace with Microsoft after ignoring EULAs for many years.
I there a priest present to hear my confession?
I will delete this post if anyone thinks it is in poor taste. The point is that I spent $700 which I can ill afford on something for which I have no use, and only afterwards did the rationale occur to me.
